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2002 TARHEEL OPEN BENCH PRESS
RESULTS: BENCH: 300lbs. 1ST PLACE 132lb WEIGHT CLASS BEST FEMALE LIFTER MEET DESCRIPTION: The 2002 Tarheel Open Bench Press Meet is a charity event for injured police officers. Three Charlotte area gyms put on the meet. One of the owners, after reading about Jen in the newspaper, contacted her and asked if she would lift in the meet. It was short noticed, and only one month after Powerlifting Nationals. Jennifer realized however, that this would be one of the few opportunities for her to compete close to home, and agreed to give it a go. Arriving early for weigh-ins, it was apparent that it was not a World or National meet. It was to be held in a local bar. The bench was set-up on the dance floor and there was an Electronic Bull just off to the right of the seating area. Even though the meet was to be held in this bar, there was still quite a good turnout. Sixty other benchers had come out to lift, but Jen was the only female. She was placed in the first tier, which consisted of all the teenage males. Many of Jen’s friends showed up to see the competition, which easily gave her the largest cheering section. Most of them had never seen Jen in competition. It was evident early on that they would not be the only ones cheering for her. Many of the other lifters recognized her from the newspapers and powerlifting magazines. Some that had read about her recent World Title went as far as to ask for her autograph. Warm-ups went well but were a little unorganized due to many of the new inexperienced teen lifters. Luckily, Jen was to lift at the end of the tier opening with 255lbs. with only a 242lb. nineteen-year-old male to follow her. Her attempt at 255 went up but was a little shaky. I asked if she had missed her groove, and she said, “I just don’t have it today”. I quickly responded, “there are a lot of people here to watch you lift, to watch the World Champ lift, you don’t get to ‘not have it today’”. Then abruptly came, “fine, put in 270”. Suddenly the mindset had changed, the look in her eyes was different. 270lbs. went up so easy that the crowd gasped and then erupted in a cheer. The 242lb. male who was leading her tier had done 270lbs., then 275. Jen chose to try 290lbs. on her last attempt; this was nine pounds over her World Record. The 242lb. male followed suit and the game was on, don’t forget Jen only weighs 132lbs. He went first and missed badly. Now it was Jen’s turn at 290lbs. It was the last lift of the first tier and now many of the men from the latter tiers who had seen what was going on wanted to see her give 290 a ride. Jen’s many friends were by far the loudest in the crowded, which by now had definitely given her an advantage. Jen simply crushed 290 and the crowd went crazy, but it wasn’t over and Jen wasn’t celebrating yet. Jen quickly asked the meet director if she could take a forth attempt. He asked what she wanted to try and she said 300lbs. He said stunned, “300, sure, any special music you would like”. Jen stated Mettalica as loud as you can. 300lbs. was placed on the bar. The weight was announced. Jen was announced as the lifter. The crowd then started pushing onto the dance floor to get a closer look at this lift. Mettalica started playing (loud). Jen’s head started bobbing to the music. She sat down on the bench and gave a huge yell before she leaned back under the 300lb. bar. Now the crowd, Jen’s friends the loudest, was going nuts. It was like being at a concert. I lifted her the bar, and the crowd was now so close that it felt like they all could have touched the bench. She lowered the bar, paused, and rammed it to the top. 300lbs. for a 132lb female! Everyone went crazy, Jen high-fived everyone in the crowd, and rumor has it even got one marriage proposal. Not bad for not “having it”.
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Special Thanks to Richard Weed and Carol Latta Chromosome Donors
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